This release provides Detailed Characteristics tables on demography and family topics, which show detailed cross-tabulations of these topics with two or more other topics from the census. Tables are provided for local authorities, 2011 Census Merged Wards and Middle Layer Super Output Areas (MSOAs) in England and Wales.

There are 16 tables on the demography and family topics at both MSOA and 2011 Census merged ward level, and 5 tables at local authority level. There are 2 tables on English language proficiency at both MSOA and 2011 Census Merged wards and 2 tables at regional level. All 25 tables are available from the Nomis website. Each table can be accessed directly using the links in the reference table
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The level of detail included in Detailed Characteristics tables means that, in order to prevent disclosure of individuals’ information, these tables are only produced for areas that have minimum population thresholds of 1,000 persons or 400 households. Some wards fall below this threshold. In these cases the ward is merged with a neighbouring ward, or wards, until the combined Census estimate for the merged wards is above both the minimum person (1,000) and household (400) threshold. Detailed characteristics are therefore produced for wards known as 2011 Census Merged Wards. The complete set of 2011 Census Merged Wards includes both those that have been merged, as well as those wards above the threshold that do not need to be merged. This gives complete coverage of England and Wales.

More information about MSOAs and 2011 Census Merged Wards is available from ONS Geography.

During 2013 ONS will release further Detailed Characteristics tables for MSOAs and 2011 Census Merged Wards and further statistics at lower levels of geography such as output areas. These will continue to provide an even richer and more valuable data source for the many users of the census.

Further information about the census estimates, including details about the methodology used and information about how other population sub-groups are counted and defined, is available in the in the 2011 Census user guide.

Further information on the fitness for purpose of the statistics in this release can be found in the Quality and Methodology
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Information paper.